Google Keep vs Obsidian
“Which one wastes more of your one finite, irreplaceable life? We ran the numbers. We made the numbers up. The result is somehow still accurate.”
Google Keep
“Where great ideas go to live forever, unread, under 200 other notes.”
| Feature | Google Keep | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| 🕳️ Hours Wasted / Day | 1.5 hrs | 6.8 hrs More hours = clear winner of nothing. |
| 🔥 Lifetime Damage | 246.4M hrs | 2.9M hrs |
| Our Rating | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| App Store | ||
| Google Play | 4.7 | 4.1 |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Downloads | 1B+ | 1M+ |
| Size | ||
| In-App Purchases 💸 | ||
| Requires Internet | ||
| Age Rating | Everyone | Everyone |
| Developer | Google LLC | Dynalist Inc. |
By our entirely fabricated metrics, Google Keep wins the race to the bottom of your free time. Obsidian is the “responsible” choice, in the way that a slightly smaller slice of cake is responsible. There are no winners here. Only documented hours.
Pick Your Poison
Choose Google Keep if...
Google Keep remains a useful tool for basic note-taking and list management, especially for users deeply embedded in the Google ecosystem. However, those seeking advanced organizational options, robust formatting, or a dedicated, separate reminder system may find it lacking and would be better served by other apps.
Choose Obsidian if...
Obsidian is essential for knowledge workers, writers, and researchers who want a future-proof, local-first note system and don't mind a learning curve. However, mobile users needing reliable text editing should wait for bug fixes or consider alternatives until the selection and UI issues are resolved. Best used as a companion to the desktop version rather than a standalone mobile solution.
Get Google Keep
Get Obsidian
Every stat above is affectionately invented. The apps are real, the regret is real, the numbers are vibes. “Requires: stable Wi-Fi, poor impulse control, and a willingness to question your life choices at 2 AM.”